Late Post: From "Gone Girl" to "The Judge," See My Latest Movie Reviews

Wednesday, October 15, 2014, 06:39 PMPosted by Manny

Hi guys, so sorry for my late posts! I was in the Philippines for the last week and a half and I've been busy reconnecting with family and friends that I didn't have time to post. Sorry Please forgive me!

But better late than never, and there they are. My movie reviews of "Gone Girl," "The Good Lie," and "The Judge." Coming up, how many kisses does "Kill the Messenger" get? I'll have your answer tomorrow! But for now, let's settle for Ben Affleck, Reese Witherspoon, and Robert Downey Jr. Jeremy Renner can wait HA!

So long Ellen, hello NPH! Veteran stage and screen actor will host the 87th Oscars according to show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron on Sunday, February 22, 2015. He dances, he sings, and perhaps, he can take better selfies than Ellen!

Here's the rest of the press release:

"We are thrilled to have Neil host the Oscars," said Zadan and Meron. "We have known him his entire adult life, and we have watched him explode as a great performer in feature films, television and stage. To work with him on the Oscars is the perfect storm, all of his resources and talent coming together on a global stage."

“It is truly an honor and a thrill to be asked to host this year’s Academy Awards. I grew up watching the Oscars and was always in such awe of some of the greats who hosted the show,” said Harris. “To be asked to follow in the footsteps of Johnny Carson, Billy Crystal, Ellen DeGeneres, and everyone else who had the great fortune of hosting is a bucket list dream come true.”

“We share Craig and Neil’s excitement in welcoming the incredibly talented Neil Patrick Harris,” said Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Academy President. “He is the consummate entertainer. Neil’s distinctive charm and showmanship make him the ideal host to honor the Oscar legacy and ensure we all enjoy another unforgettable celebration.”

“Neil is a terrific actor, singer, risk-taker and collaborator,” said Dawn Hudson, Academy CEO. “We can't wait to see the show that he and Craig and Neil create together.”

“Neil Patrick Harris is highly energetic and a definitive entertainer,” said Paul Lee. “We are thrilled to have him as our 2015 Oscar host.”

A triple-threat performer, Harris has enjoyed a successful career in entertainment. He can currently be seen starring opposite Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike in David Fincher’s critically-acclaimed feature film, “Gone Girl.” Harris garnered multiple Emmy® and Golden Globe award nominations for his role as Barney Stinson on the hit television series, “How I Met Your Mother,” and he won an Emmy for his guest-starring role on “Glee” in 2010. He also recently starred in the title role of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” on Broadway, earning the 2014 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Harris served as host of the 61st and 65th Primetime Emmy Awards, as well as the 63rd, 65th, 66th and 67th Tony Awards, for which he won four Emmys. Most recently, Harris added the title of author to his list of accomplishments with the release of his autobiography from Crown Publishing, “Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography.”

The last two Oscars telecasts, which were produced by Zadan and Meron, received a major spike in the ratings. The 86th Oscars was TV’s most-watched entertainment event in 10 years and attracted the biggest viewership since 2000, with more than 45 million viewers. The show resulted in dramatic gains in younger demos and social media conversation, with more than one billion impressions generated on Twitter and 25 million interactions happening on Facebook on Oscar Sunday. Additionally, the star-studded “selfie” became the most retweeted photo of all time with 32.8 million views.

The Oscars will be held at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 4 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

Jeremy Renner Talks About "Kill the Messenger!" He's As Smart and Gripping As the Movie!

Thursday, October 2, 2014, 02:23 AMPosted by Manny

Jeremy Renner is mesmerizing and totally unforgettable in the upcoming movie “Kill the Messenger.” He plays the true-life character, Gary Webb, the San Jose Mercury News reporter who exposes the CIA’s role in arming Contra rebels in Nicaragua and then importing cocaine into the mean streets of California.

When critics use the word gripping, they were probably thinking of “Kill the Messenger.”

Take a look at my interview with the actor who also moonlighted as producer in the film. What inspired him to do the movie, and wait ‘til you see his answer if we are still having war on drugs.

Official “Kill the Messenger” Synopsis

Two-time Academy Award nominee Jeremy Renner ("The Bourne Legacy") leads an all-star cast in a dramatic thriller based on the remarkable true story of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gary Webb. Webb stumbles onto a story which leads to the shady origins of the men who started the crack epidemic on the nation's streets...and further alleges that the CIA was aware of major dealers who were smuggling cocaine into the U.S., and using the profits to arm rebels fighting in Nicaragua. Despite warnings from drug kingpins and CIA operatives to stop his investigation, Webb keeps digging to uncover a conspiracy with explosive implications. His journey takes him from the prisons of California to the villages of Nicaragua to the highest corridors of power in Washington, D.C. - and draws the kind of attention that threatens not just his career, but his family and his life. (c) Focus

My Fun Interview with the Lovely Rosemary DeWitt for "KIll the Messenger!"

Thursday, October 2, 2014, 02:21 AMPosted by Manny

I adore Rosemary DeWitt! She’s always been a fun, sweet, and utterly delightful interviewee. The last time I spoke to her was for “The Promised Land” with Matt Damon. Now, she’s duking it out with the CIA for the fantastic “Kill the Messenger” with Jeremy Renner! In this interview, we talked about her interest in the movie, how she prepared for her role, and is our country still doing the war on drugs?

Arnold Oceng (Mamere), scriptwriter Margaret Nagle, and Kuoth Wiel (Abital) were in high spirits for the press junket of “The Good Lie” in Nashville. They are all proud of the film starring Reese Witherspoon. In this interview, we talked about the inspiration in writing “The Good Lie,” how Oceng got the part, and Kuoth’s passion to helping refugees. “The Good Lie” opens nationwide on Friday, October 3rd.

Official Synopis:

“THE GOOD LIE”

They were known simply as "The Lost Boys." Orphaned by the brutal Civil war in Sudan that began in 1983, these young victims traveled as many as a thousand miles on foot in search of safety. Fifteen years later, a humanitarian effort would bring 3600 lost boys and girls to America. In "The Good Lie," Philippe Falardeau, (writer and director of the Oscar(R)- nominated Foreign Language film "Monsieur Lazhar") brings the story of their survival and triumph to life. Sudanese actors Arnold Oceng, Ger Duany, Emmanuel Jal, and newcomer Nyakuoth Weil, many of whom were also children of war, star alongside Academy Award(R) winner Reese Witherspoon and Corey Stoll. -- (C) Warner Bros.